Cherry orientator



Oct. 13, 1953 E. w. CARROLL ErAL 2,555,247

CHERRY ORIENTATOR Filed March 12, 1951 l s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1953E. w. CARROLL rAL 2,655,247

CHERRY ORIENTATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1951 alezon.

Oct. 13, 1953 E. w. CARROLL ETAL 2,655,247

CHERRY ORIENTATOR FiledMarch 12, 1951 s sheets-sheet s 1 .E w HLM.. w

Oct. 13, 1953 E. w. CARRCLL ETAL 2,655,247

CHERRY ORIENTATOR A Filedmarch 12, 1951 e sheets-sheet 4 umQA/A/QV/z/mc. 47a

IN VEN TOR` Iva/.0. aren/r irren/veg Oct. 13, 1953 E. w. CARROLL ETAL.2,655,247

- CHERRY' ORIENTATOR Filed March 12, 1951 e sheets-sheet 5 MQW@ PatentedOct. 13, 1953 .UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 2,655,247 @maar ORIENT-@fritEllsworth W. Carroll, Redwood City, John VV. Edgemond, Jr., Los' Altos,and Holger J. Jespereen, Menlo rank, Calif .essigmrs i9 S t y FineFoods, Inc., San `Francisco, Calif., a cor- 'poration offCalifforniaApplication March 12, 1951,- lS era'l AN o.

The presentV invention relates tondevioes for the orientation ofindented fruit, vsuch as cherries. for example.

Indented fruit, such asxcherries, plums, peaches, and the like, can beorientated 'by the :use .of an orientation member .on which .the fruitrests, vthis member being shaped :to enter the stem findent of the fruitwhen registrylof the member and the indent occurs during rotation of thefruit-'by .the orientation member. An .excellent .example Y.of

such a device is the. yarrangement shown, ,de

Weight of an indented fruit, and the Wheel then rotated to vrotate @thefruit. The wheel .is proportioned to venter the vindent of the fruitwhen registry occurs. When .entry `has vbeen ac'- complished the fruit-is -no longer rotated. as .usufficient frictional contaetbetween.Wheelfalld'fruit to cause -fruit rotationghasbeen lost.

Such orientation devices l and many other types are sensitive, as far`21s percentage orientationyis concerned, to the ,size pf the :fruitindent with respect to the projection of -its orientation :nember intothe fruit support. ,-Frui-t gradedftosizes Where the diameter range isrelatively small'ar-.e orientated to high percentages -eof properly.orientated fruit when the diameter of an orientation wheel, forexample, is closely coordinatedy with the size of fruit beingorientated. Fruit of` other graded sizes, however, arenot orientatedwith such high percentages,I unless the.. size of the orientation wheeland/or thefprojection thereof into the fruit supportgis also changed.Thus, grading as Va separate operationon the fruit to.- gether with theuse ofthe properlycoordinated and positioned orientation membershould be.used in order to consistently obtain high orientation percentage. Ifthegradnglis dispensedwith, the percentage of orientationWithz-agiven-,wheel setup may be significantly lower unlessof course,orchard run fruit isconsistentlyofrrelatively uniform size and properlyrelated to thewheel size and position. This latter conditionisfveryunusual and an orientation device that-wilLcon- (Cl. 19E- 33)` v2 It is Yano-ther object of the invention to provide a .-fruitorientation device providing, without change, substantially equalpercentage orientation of fruit diiering `materially in size. .5 It is,a s tiu further Object lof the present invention to provide a fruitrotating and orientating 4n rernbel suitable for 4rotating andorientating fruit of Widely differing Asizes with substantially the samepercentage orientation, and to provide e relatively simple vdev-ice for.Orientating indented fruit `4lwith a high percentage of orientation.

It is still another object of 'the invention to provide ,a means for.Qrientating indented fruit in .the Same receptacle inwhich it to `bepitted- `.TMeer.110.115,11 :these :objects the invention in.- volves theuse of a fruit receptacle having a centralfbottom aperture therein. Asindented fruit such as cherrie arepustornarily pitted in a con- Careupfffvrmdefelasti@material Simms rubbei? ,he 911D fhvng a 19.9.91??@1bottom 1101@ there iilfflor @the cherry gli t0 pass,-.when forcedtherethrough by a pitting knife applied to the top of the chew: auch evpitting .Cup may be used t0 support theiruit duringprientation. Byorientation. in the pitting .cup. -itse 1f, no vtransfer of the fruittoa `,support,suitfabl'e for pitting need vbe made.

.Qriniaton 11S .apmpl'ished in one manner according .to the present.invention, 'by placing aplurality'of pitting rubbers on a carrier andWhile 'on'fan lorientation portion of the path,'.apilotlniemberis'inserted inthe bottom holes of ther eptafclle at'r'anangle to theverticaly axis Qff 'the lliet..eliltacle ,and ,by `fan`amount wheretlie exterior .surf'acenof afruit'lin the receptacle awayfrom the. indent `vvilljbe .contacted The pilot member is Athen `reciprocated rapidly and the tang ntial. contact thereof with .the'iruitrotates the ruit rapidly. 4when. the fruithas rotated so,v that theAfiii'lerit, is -over* the receptacle hole, 11116 Qtatonlbf. the `fruit,will stop because the ocating `pilot ,member no `Ilonger" .can lconfruitand'theiruit will then remain in n wherefthe p 'it canL1ater"be,forced` out Vit throughthelindentarea and through g hole,,This pitting `action can take place, e: peri vspent rin the orientationas afte Y.

portionuno the thepilot member' swings l `d Qvvrlvgaijolly outofktheupitting .hole toleave the Way elearifor ,the pillli,Ilg`...1.il1i`fe`.V 1 As the pilot .member need only.. enter .the receptacle@a very small extent, ,good "orientation takes vvplace with 1 eQrjsmallideiis, as may be ...mannered '..i.11...1a1fge.aiid. smallfruit-respectively; In' consequence, high percentage orientaprogressingthe carrier over a horizontal path.

No. 2,092,956, and embodying one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of pthe machineof Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of a portionof the machine of Figures l nism (not shown) in gear box I3, the pittingknife assembly I5 moves with the carrier chains 'I as they pass arounddriving drum 6, with the pitting knives being reciprocated by gear boxmechanism (not shown) to force pits from fruit carried by thereceptacles The pitting knife assembly I5 is then rapidly returned tothe original position, with the pitting knives I6 being 'raised ready topit fruit in the next receptacles arriving at driving drum 6, as fullyexplained in the cited Conner et al. patent.

The receptacles are shown in detail in Figure 2a. A metal frame 20having a large central aperture 2| isfolded over at opposite edges 22 toform bearings for link pins 24. The turned edges 22 serve to hold apitting rubber 25 having 'i n an upper concave recess 26 therein, and apit hole and 2 showing one means for reciprocating the, Y

fruit orientating member.

Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic partial side view of a machinesimilar to that of Figures 1 and 2 showing another embodiment of thepresent invention.

Figure 3a is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine ofFigure 3 showing a different pilot member mounting.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but showing still anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4a is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine ofFigure 4 showing the arrangement of the orientation parts.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal view, partly in vertical section and partlyin elevation, of part of a machine using still another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 5a is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the circle5a in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic vertical section illustrating theorientation principles by which the embodiments of the previous guresoperate.

Figure 6a is a diagram of a portion of Figure 6 showing the fruit inorientated position.

Figure 7 is a graph showing how precentage orientation changes withfrequency of orientation member reciprocation.

Figure 8 shows graphs of percentage orientation with respect to time forgraded and ungraded fruit.

Referring first to Figures land 2 for a brief general description of acherry pitting machine of the Connor et al. type in which the presentinvention is incorporated, a base plate supports at one end thereof apair of spaced side plates 3 by legs 3a. At one end of side plates 3 anidler drum 4 is positioned to rotate on a horizontal idler drum shaft 5.At the other end of side plates 3 is positioned a polygonal driving cam6.

A plurality of carrier chains 'I are mounted on drums 4 and 6, each ofthese chains 'I comprising a plurality of fruit supporting receptaclesIl, these receptacles being pivotally linked together to provide a chainaction as the carrier chains pass around drums 4 and 6. Thesereceptacles will be more fully described later. Continuous motion isgiven to the chains 1 'by motor I2 acting through a gear box I3 torotate driving drum 6.

Mounted above driving drum 6 is a pitting knife assembly I5 rotatable onan axis common with that of the driving drum 6, and carrying pittingknives I6, one for each chain, movable over a radial path with respectto driving drum 6. By the use of an intermittent motion mecha- 21centrally positioned in the bottom of the recess 26.

During pitting of the fruit, the knife I6 enters the fruit supported onthe rubber, engages thev pit and forces it through the pit hole 21 inthe elastic bottom of the pitting rubber 25, the pit hole 2l having adiameter less than the average diameter of the pits of the fruit beingpitted. As the receptacles Il pass over the driving drum 6, the exteriorsurface of this drum is cut away so that the pits can enter the interiorof the drum, from which they can be removed laterally.

In order that the pitted fruit can readily be removed from the knivesI6, each knife |6 is provided with a stripper plate 28 through which theknife reciprocates. After being removed from the knives I6, the fruitfalls into discharge chute Loading of the fruit can conveniently beprovided by the use of a loading drum 3| positioned above idler drum 4.Loading drum 3| is positively driven from idler drum 4 by drum chain 32.Loading drum 3| is provided with peripheral rows 0f loading recesses 33,spaced to register with receptacles I I as the loading drum 3| isrotated. Cherries fall by gravity from hopper 3|a into loading recesses33 and drop into the receptacles II by gravity as they arrive at thebeginning of the horizontal part ofthe path of the carrier chains.

The present invention provides means for orientating the fruit to havethe stem indent down While the fruit is on the horizontal portion of thecarrier path between the loading position and the pitting position.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 2a.

In this case, a bracket 46 is extended downwardly from the forward endof each pitting rubber frame 2|! as best shown in Figure 2a. Pivoted onthe end of bracket 4d is an orientation member 4| having an upwardlyextending fruit rotating tip 45 so positioned that when the orientationmember 14| is rotated upwardly the tip 45 will enter the pit hole 2l atan angle, as will be more fully explained later. Normally, orientationmember' 4| is swung downwardly by pivot spring 46.

Immediately beneath each line of receptacles and extending centrallybeneath the orientation members 4|, is positioned a stationary rack 41having upwardly extending teeth il thereon, these teeth being positionedto contact a downwardly extending rider portion 49 on the orientationmember 4| The front end 5|.of rack 41 is curved downwardly adjacent theidler drum d, so that as the riders 49 contact front end 5|, they areraised against'the urge of pivot springs. 4S to place each fruitrotating tip 45 at a pit hole 21, V'lj'he teeth 48 of the rack 41 aresized S0 that they bear onv each rider 49 to raise the orientationmembers to a point where the tips 45 thereof will enter the pit holes toContact the exterior of a fruit in the receptacles, with a reciprocatingaction as each rider 49 moves over the teeth 48.

This contact of rider and teeth occurs over substantially the entirehorizontal path of the carrier.

Adjacent the pitting knife assembly.. the rack 41 terminates, permittingthe orientation members to be moved away by the pivot. springs 41,thereby leaving the pit hole 21 unobstructed for the passage of thepitting knife I6. as shown, for example, at X in Figure 1.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 2a, the orientation members4| are shown as attached to each receptacle Il. In order that the numberof orientation members required can be reduced, we may prefer to utilizethe construction shown in Figures 3 and 3a..

Referring to Figures 3 and 3a for a description of this type ofstructure, a subcarrier in the form of a subcarrier chain 55 ispositioned beneath each carrier chain 1, between drums 4 and 6. Eachsubcarrier chain 55 is mounted on spaced subcarrier sprockets 56, andeach alternate link 51 carries an orientation member 4|a similar tomember 4|, mounted on a link bracket 58. A pivot spring 45a is also usedin this case to urge the orientation members 4|a. against the crosspins51 of the subcarrier chain 55.

subcarrier chain 55 is driven by outwardly extending drive pins 59(shown in Figure 3), and these pins, attached to links betweenorientation members, as the main carrier chains 1 progress, contact andregister with the links of the main carrier chains 1 to synchronize boththe position and speed of travel of the orientation members 4|a. so thata fruit rotating tip 45a of the orientation member 4 |a is positionedbeneath each pit hole 21 in the pitting rubbers.

Rider portions 49a of the orientation members 4|a are in this case madesufficiently long so that they pass downwardly through the links ofsubcarrier chain 55 as best shown in Figure 3a.

A toothed rack 41a is positioned beneath subcarrier chain 55 to raisethe fruit rotating tips 45a into the pit holes 21 and to reciprocatethese tips 45a, as in the embodiment shown in Figures l, 2, and 2a. Whenlong main carrier chains 1 are used, the use of the subcarrierarrangement shown in Figures 2 and 2a will greatly reduce the number oforientation members required.

As it may be desirable to regulate the rate of tip reciprocationindependently of the speed of progression of the main carrier chains 1,the system of Figures 4 and la can be used t0 good ad vantage.

With reference to these Figures 4 and 4a, the same subcarrier chains areused as have been described in conjunction with Figures 3 and 3a and thesame orientation members 4|a are attached to chains 55. In thisinstance, however, a third chain 6| is positioned belowy each subcarrierchain 55, carried by third chain `sprockets B2, one of these sprocketsbeing independently driven by third chain motor 63 through sprocket belt64. Motor 63 is preferably of the variable speed type controlled by aspeed control device 55, as shown in Figure 4.

Riderv portions 49d of orientation members 4 la,

main-carrierfchainsfare contacted brerossrins 66 of the third chain 6|.fWhen this chain 6| is driven in the directionv preferably 'opposite tothat of the main and subcarrier chains 1 and 55, respectivelyl the fruitrotating tips 45a of the orientation members 4m are reciprocated at arate dependent upon the relation of the speed of the main and subcarrierchains 1 and 55, respectively, and of the third chain 5 l. Thus, byregulating thespeed of the third chain 5|, the number of `reciprocationsof the orientation members per unit time can be accurately regulated.

A combination or certain features of the machine of Figures 1, 2,and-2qr with certain tea-l tures of Figures 4 and. 4a. is shown in.Figures 5. and 5a.. Here, an orientation member 4| is attached to eachreceptacle asjin the device 0f Figures 1, 2, and 2a. In this case,however. a reciprocation; chain 10 (Figure isimilar to third chain'l inFigures 4 land 4a. is positioned directly beneath each main carrierchain 1 in the position of rack 41 as used in the deviceof Figures 1, 2,and 2a. The reciprocation chain 10` is mounted on sprockets 1| to keepit parallel to the main chains 1 and is driven by a variable speed motor63 in. the same manner as third chain 6l was driven. Thus, in the deviceshown in Figures 5 and 5a, the reciprocation rate can be closelycontrolled, The constructions shown in Figures 4 and 4a and. in Figures5 and 5a are. diiierent only in construction, the machines of Figures I,2. and Za,- utilizing more orientation members vbut one less chain thanthe machine. of Figures 4 and 4c.` The action is identical.

Having described several types of machines embodying the presentinvention, the detailed construction and action of the orientation mem-vbers 4| or 4|a will next be `described by refer-` ence to the diagram ofFigure 6.

It has been found by the recorded testing of thousands of cherries ofall types and sizes that the motion of the fruit rotating tipI 45provides the optimum rotation of the cherries when the. tangent T of thearc described by the tip 45 at the midpoint of the arc, as illustrated,is at about 60 to the vertical. V,'-With a strokev of aboutV @le to 11ginch, inside of the rubber 25. The over; all stroke will, oi course.depend upon the thickness of the pitting rubber 25 at the pit hole 21.As long as the reciprocating tip 45 contacts a fruit in the, receptacle,the. fruit will be rotated. However, as soon as the indent I of thefruit C registers with the ,tip 45v asA shown in Figure 6a, the tip 45no longer can contact the fruit and the fruit remains with the indentdown, which is the desired position. When the fruit is` later pitted,the pit will be forced out through the indent area with a minimumof'flesh loss and with minimum change in appearance.

As the tip 45 canV be made very small in diameter,v i. e., 31g o1' aninch or less in any direction. efdcient orientation of both large andsmall fruit is attained* Recorded tests show that fruit of mixed sizestake somewhat longer to attain the same percentage of orientation asclosely graded fruit, but that theyv both arrive at substantially thesame maximum percentage orientation. 'I'he relation of the orientationof both graded and orchard run fruit is shown in Figure 8, Here, curve Arepresents the percentage ofA fruit orienfavorable to a high percentageof orientation as they pass alongjthe horizontal path of the7gisprocessedwlt -willbe noticed that thepoint of maximum practicalreturn is at about 6.5 seconds. Curve B 1s a graph representing a batchof orchard run fruit containing a much wider size range than the fruitused to obtain curve A. In curve B, it would at iirst appear that thepractical processing point occurred at about 4.5 seconds at about 91%orientation. However, at 10.5 seconds it was found that the percentageorientation was the same as that of the fruit recorded in curve A,showing that after about 6 additional seconds, the device of the presentinvention gave an orientation percentage for the mixed lot substantiallythe same as that of the graded lot. It is thus clear that the device ofthe present invention is not critically dependent in any way, forhighest orientation percentages, on either fruit size or indent size. Itis to be noted that the curves A and B of Figure 8 are for 'only such'cherries in the two lots as are actually capable of being orientated,fruit having no indents or abnormal indentations larger than the stemindent not being counted.

In Figure '7, the relation of tip reciprocation with the percentageorientation is shown. All points on the curve in this figure were takenfrom the same lot of fruit, complete orchard run, thus accounting for asomewhat lower maximum than indicated in Figure 8. This curve shows thatthe optimum reciprocation rate is about 1500 cycles per minute with asatisfactory range of from about 850 c. p. m. to 1859 c. p. m. The rapiddrop-off abo-ve 1850 c. p. m. is due to the fact that the cherry atthese rates is bounced in the air too long between tip contacts and isnot regularly contacted by the tip.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modiiication in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to cbmply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less speciiic as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of itsforms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

l. In a machine for orientating indented fruit, a generally horizontalreceptacle for holding said fruit against gravity, said receptaclehaving a central bottom aperture therein, a fruit orientating memberpositioned to enter said receptacle through said aperture over an arcthe tangent at the midpoint thereof being at an angle to the vertical,the upper tip of said member being movable over said arc from a pointbelow the level of the bottom of said receptacle to a point above saidlevel, and means for oscillating said member between said two points torotate a fruit in said receptacle by tangential contact with said fruit.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said angle is on theorder of 60.

' 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rate ofoscillation of said tip is romabout 800 to about. 1900 cyclesA perminute.

4. Apparatus in accordance with vclaim 1 wherein at least the bottomportion of said receptacle is of rubber-like elastic material andwherein the diameter of said aperture is less than the average diameterof the pits of the fruit being orientated.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least the bottomportion of said receptacle is of rubber-like elastic material, whereinthe diameter of said aperture is less than the average diameter of thepits of the fruit being orientated, and wherein said angle is on theorder of 60.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim l wherein at least the bottomportion of said receptacle is of rubber-like elastic material, whereinthe diameter of said aperture is less than the average diameter of thepits of the fruit being orientated, wherein' said angle is on the orderof 60, and the rate of said oscillation is within the range of fromabout 800 to about 1900 cycles per minute.v

'7. Means for orientating cherries and the like comprising a pittingrubber having a central bottorn aperture therein, an orientation memberpositioned beneath said receptacle, and having a tip thereon, saidmember being mounted so that said tip is movable from an upper iruitcontacting point below the bottom of said receptacle to a point abovethe bottom of said receptacle through the central aperture of saidreceptacle over an arc, the tangent at the mid-point of which forms asubstantial angle with the vertical, and means for oscillating saidmember to cause said tip to oscillate over said arc.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7 wherein said angle is on theorder of 60.

9` Apparatus in 'accordance with claim 'l wherein the rate ofoscillation of said member is from about 800 to about D cycles perminute.

10. Fruit orientation means comprising a carrier, a plurality of pittingrubber frames attached to said carrier, a pitting rubber attached toeach frame, said rubbers having an upper cup-shaped recess therein and acentral aperture in the bottom thereof, means for progressing saidcarrier over a horizontal path, a bracket movable with each frame oversaid path and positioned below and at one side of the aperture in therubber attached to said frame, an arm pivotally attached at one end tosaid bracket, the other end of said arm having a tip thereon extendingupwardly in a position to enter said aperture, means urging said armdownwardly away from said aperture, means for moving said arm to placesaid tip in said aperture as said carrier is progressed, and means foroscillating said arm to move said tip into and out of said recess duringprogression of said carrier.

ll, Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein Vsaid arm is providedwith a downwardly extending portion and wherein said arm oscillatingmeans is a member with an upper surface having a plurality of high andlow portions thereon positioned to contact said downwardly extendingportion of said arm as said carrier is progressed.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said arm is providedwith a downwardly extending portion and wherein said arm oscillatingmeans is a rack having upwardly extending teeth thereon positioned to becontacted by said downwardly extending portion of said arm as saidcarrier-is progressed.'

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim wherein said arm is provided witha downwardly extending portion and wherein said arm oscillating means isa chain having cross links positioned to be contacted by said downwardlyextending portion of said arm as said carrier is progressed, and withmeans for progressing said chain at a speed different from that of saidcarrier.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said arm is providedwith a downwardi ly extending portion and wherein said arm oscillatingmeans is a chain having cross links positioned to be contacted by saiddownwardly extending portion of said arm as said carrier is progressed,and with means for progressing said chain in a direction opposite to theprogression direction of said carrier.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the rate ofoscillation of said arm is from about 800 to 1900 cycles per minute.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the tangent of the arcof movement of said tip at the midpoint of said arc is on the order of60 to the vertical.

1'7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the tangent of thearc of movement of said tip at the midpoint of said arc is on the orderof 60 to the vertical, and wherein the rate of oscillation is from about800 to about 1900 cycles per minute.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said brackets areattached to said frames.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 10 wherein a subconveyor isprovided below said carrier, said brackets being attached to saidsubconveyor, and with means for moving said subconveyor in synchronismwith said carrier.

20. In a machine for orientating indented fruit, a generally horizontalreceptacle for holding said fruit against gravity, said receptaclehaving a central bottom aperture therein, a fruit orientating memberhaving an upper tip positioned to enter said receptacle through saidaperture, said upper tip being movable from a point below the level ofthe bottom of said receptacle to a point above said level, a line drawnbetween said two points being at an angle to the vertical, and means forrapidly moving said upper tip back and forth between said two points torotate a fruit in said receptacle by tangential contact with said fruit.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the angle of said lineis on the order of 22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein therate of back and forth movement of said tip is from about 800 to about1900 cycles per minute.

ELLSWORTH W. CARROLL. JOHN W. EDGEMOND, Jn. HOLGER J. JESPERSEN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

